The Oakland A's want to reach the World Series badly enough to lose Addison Russell as part of their future.

It's a cash-the-chips or bust decision.

As Fourth of July fireworks crackled everywhere late Friday night, the A's blockbuster trade with the Chicago Cubs that included Russell as part of the deal sent reverberations throughout professional baseball.

The A's opted to dangle Russell, 20, the Pace High graduate, as the plum to lure the Cubs into trading their ace pitcher, Jeff Samardzija and fellow top starter Jason Hammel. The A's currently boast the best record in the major leagues. They believe the two pitchers will make the difference in October.

This could turn into fool's gold. In parting with Russell, they lose a player universally acclaimed as one of the best prospects in minor league baseball. A shortstop viewed so highly he's expected to reach the big leagues faster than normal.

The Cubs also received outfielder Billy McKinney, as well as right-hander Dan Straily. Both are considered quality prospects.

The move has long-suffering Cubs fans skeptical. They responded in a Chicago Tribune poll with 52 percent of more than 6,600 votes at mid-afternoon Saturday against the decision, 48 percent in favor.

But for Russell, it's a great move. The Cubs are one of the richest and biggest brand names in professional sports, even though they don't have trophies to back it up. Instead, they often operate like a generic brand when it comes to management decisions.

Winning is not always first with them, which is why they haven't won a World Series in 105 years.

The immediate impact is Russell could have a homecoming of sorts when the Cubs' Double-A affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies, plays the Mobile BayBears on Aug. 6-10 in Mobile. Russell was playing for the A's Double-A affiliate in Midland, Texas, so he figures to make the same-level transfer for now.

The Smokies will host the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the preceding series — the only other time they will play — in games that could include Ben Lively facing Russell. Another proud baseball moment for our community.

Russell, who was part of Pace High's amazing run of success, including the 2010 Class 5A state title and national title honor, understood the business decision and reacted positively on Twitter to his 13,000-plus followers.

"It's been a whirlwind past few hours, but I finally managed to relax and listen to music and eat a hotdog. Hows a #ChicagoDog sound?"

He tweeted to potential future teammate Kris Bryant, the Cubs acclaimed third baseman prospect, who is in Triple-A Des Moines, that he was "stoked" to be joining the Cubs organization.

If the Cubs choose to finally pay and keep these young players, this could be a special team forming in the future. The A's made their business move. The Cubs countered.